This document discusses the abuse of animals and the links to human abuse. It begins with an overview of the cycle of abuse and importance of the human-animal bond. It then discusses different types of animal abuse including physical, sexual, emotional, and neglect. It provides examples of injuries seen in abused animals that are similar to abused children. The document emphasizes that veterinarians are important in recognizing signs of animal abuse. It discusses research demonstrating that abuse of animals often coincides with abuse of family members. The conclusion emphasizes the need for veterinarians and animal welfare organizations to have protocols for identifying and reporting suspected animal abuse cases, and to collaborate with social services to help protect vulnerable humans and animals.

1. Abuse of AnimalsAbuse of Animals
Paula Boyden BVetMed MRCVSPaula Boyden BVetMed MRCVS
Dogs TrustDogs Trust
The Links GroupThe Links Group

2. The Cycle of AbuseThe Cycle of Abuse

3. The Human/Animal BondThe Human/Animal Bond
Some people doSome people do
not understandnot understand
why companionwhy companion
animals are soanimals are so
important to soimportant to so
many peoplemany people

4. …..The Human Perpetrator

5. Flintshire mum stabbed to death
refused to enter refuge without her
dog
Published date: 30 November 2009 | Published by: Elwyn Roberts
Flintshire mum stabbed to death refused to enter refuge without her dog
A DEESIDE mum stabbed to death by her ex-partner had hours earlier
refused to go into a refuge without her dog, a trial has heard.

6. A Brief History of Abuse
• 1824: RSPCA
• 1839: SSPCA
• 1874: Mary Ellen Wilson
• 1884: NSPCC

7. C. Henry Kempe et al, 1962C. Henry Kempe et al, 1962
The Battered Child SyndromeThe Battered Child Syndrome
Journal of the American MedicalJournal of the American Medical
AssociationAssociation 181181, 17-24, 17-24

8. Phil Arkow (1994)Phil Arkow (1994)
Child Abuse, Animal AbuseChild Abuse, Animal Abuse
and the Veterinarianand the Veterinarian
JAVMA,JAVMA, 204204, (7), 1004-1007, (7), 1004-1007

9. Arkow’s conclusions…Arkow’s conclusions…
• Growing evidence of a link betweenGrowing evidence of a link between
violence to animalsviolence to animals andand violence toviolence to
peoplepeople
• Vets were importantVets were important because theybecause they
saw the results of violence in theirsaw the results of violence in their
animal patientsanimal patients

10. Since Kempe’s Paper…Since Kempe’s Paper…
• Over 50 years of research into childOver 50 years of research into child
abuseabuse
• Entire textbooks/journals written on childEntire textbooks/journals written on child
abuseabuse

11. What does this mean?What does this mean?

12. Types of AbuseTypes of Abuse
•PhysicalPhysical
•SexualSexual
•EmotionalEmotional
•NeglectNeglect

13. Physical Abuse: SynonymsPhysical Abuse: Synonyms
• Non-accidental injuryNon-accidental injury
• NAINAI
• Battered Child SyndromeBattered Child Syndrome
• Battered Pet SyndromeBattered Pet Syndrome

14. Animal Sexual AbuseAnimal Sexual Abuse
• BestialityBestiality
–Sex between a person and anSex between a person and an
animalanimal
• ZoophiliaZoophilia
–Affection or affinity for animalsAffection or affinity for animals

15. Emotional AbuseEmotional Abuse
(threatening behaviour/verbal harassment)(threatening behaviour/verbal harassment)

16. Emotional AbuseEmotional Abuse

17. NeglectNeglect
To give not enough care orTo give not enough care or
attention to people or things thatattention to people or things that
are your responsibilityare your responsibility
(Oxford English Dictionary)(Oxford English Dictionary)

18. NeglectNeglect
Deprivation of the basic necessitiesDeprivation of the basic necessities
of lifeof life
• Food and waterFood and water
• ShelterShelter
• Veterinary / Medical TreatmentVeterinary / Medical Treatment
• AffectionAffection

19. The Five FreedomsThe Five Freedoms
• Freedom from hunger and thirstFreedom from hunger and thirst
• Freedom from discomfortFreedom from discomfort
• Freedom from pain, injury andFreedom from pain, injury and
diseasedisease
• Freedom to express normal behaviourFreedom to express normal behaviour
• Freedom from fear and distressFreedom from fear and distress

20. A Bull Mastiff
called Tyson

21. Non-Accidental InjuryNon-Accidental Injury

22. James Stuart Hutton (1983)James Stuart Hutton (1983)
Suggested thatSuggested that evidenceevidence ofof
animal abuseanimal abuse might be a usefulmight be a useful
diagnostic indicatordiagnostic indicator of abuse toof abuse to
other family membersother family members

23. Non-Accidental Injury (NAI)Non-Accidental Injury (NAI)
Features indicating NAI are very similar in childrenFeatures indicating NAI are very similar in children
and animals. Similarity may not beand animals. Similarity may not be immediatelyimmediately
obviousobvious

24. SimilaritySimilarity
Base of skull fracture

25. ‘Stocking Scald’
-child’s leg
forcibly
immersed

26. Cigarette BurnsCigarette Burns

27. Physical AbusePhysical Abuse
Kicking / punchingKicking / punching
Beating withBeating with
an instrumentan instrument
Throwing acrossThrowing across
roomsrooms
Swinging (by tail orSwinging (by tail or
legs)legs)
Stabbing / CuttingStabbing / Cutting
Burning / ScaldingBurning / Scalding
DrowningDrowning
AsphyxiationAsphyxiation
Drugs/poisonsDrugs/poisons
ShootingShooting
MicrowavingMicrowaving
Fabricated or inducedFabricated or induced
illness (FII)illness (FII)

28. Identifying Pointers: NAI, ChildIdentifying Pointers: NAI, Child
• History inconsistent with injuryHistory inconsistent with injury
• Discrepant historyDiscrepant history
• Repetitive injuryRepetitive injury
• Behaviour of parent/childBehaviour of parent/child
(Certain patterns of injury)(Certain patterns of injury)

29. Identifying Pointers: NAI, PetIdentifying Pointers: NAI, Pet
• History inconsistent with injuryHistory inconsistent with injury
• Discrepant historyDiscrepant history
• Repetitive injuryRepetitive injury
• Behaviour of owner/petBehaviour of owner/pet

30. 2 penetrating
wounds, one
each side of
anus.
Made by
sharp
instrument.

31. Behaviour of abused animalBehaviour of abused animal
May be subdued / frightenedMay be subdued / frightened
May show behaviour changeMay show behaviour change
May be frightened of menMay be frightened of men
Happier when hospitalisedHappier when hospitalised
DogsDogs may be desperate to pleasemay be desperate to please
DogsDogs may still appear to welcomemay still appear to welcome
abusive ownerabusive owner

32. Behaviour of OwnerBehaviour of Owner
• ““Implausible and aggressive”Implausible and aggressive”
• ““Reluctant to give history”Reluctant to give history”
• ““Angry on questioning”Angry on questioning”
• ““Lack of concern”Lack of concern”
• ““Uneasy”Uneasy”

33. SignalmentSignalment
• Age: mostlyAge: mostly youngyoung animals (<2animals (<2
years old)years old)
• Social background ?Social background ?
• Perpetrators:Perpetrators: mostly malemostly male

34. With any suspected case….
Objectivity is a MUST
Assumptions are OUT

35. Non-Accidental Injury:Non-Accidental Injury:
Difficulty of DiagnosisDifficulty of Diagnosis
““The diagnosis of physical abuse (non-The diagnosis of physical abuse (non-
accidental injury) is a difficult intellectualaccidental injury) is a difficult intellectual
& emotional exercise…….& emotional exercise…….
………….The most important step in diagnosing.The most important step in diagnosing
non-accidental injury is to force yourselfnon-accidental injury is to force yourself
to think of it in the first place.”to think of it in the first place.”

36. ““All those working with children should beAll those working with children should be
warned that their overwhelming impulsewarned that their overwhelming impulse
on confronting their first case will be toon confronting their first case will be to
want to cover it up.”want to cover it up.”

37. But I work in a shelter……..But I work in a shelter……..
• Unexplained injuriesUnexplained injuries
• Multiple injuriesMultiple injuries
• Frequent relinquishmentsFrequent relinquishments
• Human behaviourHuman behaviour
• Animal behaviourAnimal behaviour

38. The Links Group is a committed multi-The Links Group is a committed multi-
agency interest group that promotes theagency interest group that promotes the
welfare and safety of vulnerable children,welfare and safety of vulnerable children,
animals and adults so that they are freeanimals and adults so that they are free
from violence and abusefrom violence and abuse
www.thelinksgroup.org.ukwww.thelinksgroup.org.uk

39. Knowing What to DoKnowing What to Do

40. Putting it into PracticePutting it into Practice
• Have a protocol – use the Links GuidanceHave a protocol – use the Links Guidance
• Keep good notesKeep good notes
• Share your concerns with colleaguesShare your concerns with colleagues
– Re-examine you initial concernsRe-examine you initial concerns
• Establish good relationships:Establish good relationships:
– Local SPCALocal SPCA
– The police: local community officer or the domesticThe police: local community officer or the domestic
abuse unitsabuse units
– Womens domestic abuse agenciesWomens domestic abuse agencies
– Pet Fostering agenciesPet Fostering agencies

41. • Budgie stamped on and
kicked across room
• Dog repeatedly punched -
died from internal injuries
• Attempted drowning in
kitchen sink
• Cat stabbed to death with
a pen
• Dog killed from its throat
being slit
• Dog stabbed to death;
knife still in situ when
police arrived
• Cat microwaved
• Dog decapitated with a
spade
• Dog thrown out of a first
floor window
• Cat repeatedly swung by
its tail, hitting the wall
• Hamster strangled
• Gerbil thrown against a
wall
• Cat killed by putting in
freezer
• Finches stabbed to death
in front of the children
• Family pet hung from the
light fitting
• Budgie thrown on an
open fire
• Cat’s tail cut off in front of
children

42. Where do we go from here?Where do we go from here?
• Non-Accidental InjuryNon-Accidental Injury
– Consider as a possibilityConsider as a possibility
• Communication and cross reportingCommunication and cross reporting
– Members of the (dental) team are notMembers of the (dental) team are not
responsible for making a diagnosis of (child)responsible for making a diagnosis of (child)
abuse or neglect, just for sharing concernsabuse or neglect, just for sharing concerns
appropriatelyappropriately

43. Identifying NAIIdentifying NAI
• No single pointer is diagnosticNo single pointer is diagnostic
• A combination raises concernA combination raises concern
• The combination is variableThe combination is variable

44. Identifying NAIIdentifying NAI
• InconsistentInconsistent
• DiscrepantDiscrepant
• RepetitiveRepetitive

45. Tyson 6 month Rottweiler x SBTTyson 6 month Rottweiler x SBT
29 Feb 2008: RSPCA
attended house and found
Tyson to be very lame with a
bruised eye
Kylie said that Tyson had
“fallen down the stairs” after
being beaten by Kevin for
chewing a suitcase
Kevin was extremely upset and paranoid:Kevin was extremely upset and paranoid:
““My head is all over the place”My head is all over the place”

46. Tyson cont’dTyson cont’d
Tyson was signed over toTyson was signed over to
RSPCARSPCA
Kevin felt this was bestKevin felt this was best
because of the babybecause of the baby
In March 2008 Kylie gaveIn March 2008 Kylie gave
birth to a baby boy, Alfiebirth to a baby boy, Alfie

47. When animals are abused, people are at risk
When people are abused, animals are at risk
Phil Arkow, 1996